In the recent 2014 World Tube Tying Championships, JJ's Deep Creek Tubes took home the top prize in the micro car division by edging out the German team of Rhine River Rafting by a score of 7 tubes to 6. Of course, none of that is true nor is the picture above of a customer's car.

We get this question a lot. For over 25 years JJ's Deep Creek Tubes and all the other tube rental places on the creek rented black rubber tubes with wood or plastic seats tied in them. Seeing one of these relics on the creek is as rare as the white buffalo. Not really, but there are very few of them left on the creek.

Where did they go? For starters, most of the big commercial trucks have began using tubeless tires, which made finding the tubes about near impossible. JJ's, long known for leading the world in inner tube innovation, knew they had to make a move in a different direction. So we tested out the new tubes you see on the creek today and renters loved them. They are lighter, more comfortable, and hold up better than the old black tire tubes.

From time to time we still have people who want the old ones, but 97% of customers prefer the new ones. So now you know the answer to the question "what happened to the old black tubes," which in a recent Gallup Poll came in second behind who shot JFK as the worlds greatest unsolved mystery. Just kidding, of course.